On the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Adult Autism, Neurodivergent, and Mental Health Expert

53 Episodes

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Building Human Connection With AI Through Family Memories with Jeremy Horne

2025-12-0236:52

Send us a text What if your grandparents’ best stories didn’t fade with time—but could talk back when you needed them most? We sit down with founder Jeremy Horne to unpack how a childhood of mailing cassette tapes to his Nana Winny became the blueprint for Winny an app that nudges better questions, records family memories, and helps people build a living archive of their lives. Then we go deeper into Forever You, a conversational avatar that only says what you actually said—anchored by real v...

Rethinking Bipolar Disorder with Sean Blackwell

2025-11-1841:49

Send us a text Disclaimer: This is not to be taken as a therapy directive, but rather this is for learning and entertainment purposes only! Please consult with your physician and/or mental health care team to decide whether this approach is appropriate for you. Sensitive topics such as trauma and SA are discussed in this episode. What if the loudest story about bipolar disorder—the chemical imbalance—misses the point? We sit down with author and facilitator Sean Blackwell to peel back t...

From Burnout To Balance: Supporting Caregivers Of Neurodivergent Loved Ones with Eleonora Magri

2025-11-1141:55

Send us a text We explore why caring for caregivers of neurodivergent people must come first and how small, consistent habits can reverse burnout. Eleonora Magri shares practical sensory strategies, community resources, and a mindset shift that prioritizes human needs over rigid protocols. • expanding caregiving beyond elder care • why caregiver wellbeing is the first treatment step • meeting parents where they are and pacing for readiness • naming early burnout signs and reframing urgency •...

How Systematic Reading Instruction Transforms Dyslexia And Dysgraphia with Daniela Feldhausen

2025-10-2846:42

Send us a text Struggle with reading doesn’t mean a child can’t learn; it means they haven’t been taught in a way their brain can use. We sit down with Daniela Feldhausen—who left a 25-year law career to build Kids Up Reading Tutors—to unpack how precise screening and science-backed instruction turn confusion into clarity for students with dyslexia and dysgraphia. No buzzwords, just a workable roadmap: phonological awareness to hear sounds, phonics patterns that match English’s quirks, and mo...

Silent Battle, Shared Hope

2025-10-2145:22

Send us a text Trigger Warning: Suicide The hardest part isn’t finding the perfect words—it’s showing up without judgment. We sit down with Helping Heroes founder Tony DeMaio to share a clear, compassionate playbook for preventing suicide among veterans, first responders, and anyone you love who might be slipping into isolation. From the earliest warning signs to practical safety steps, this conversation is built to help you notice sooner and act with confidence. Tony traces his journey fr...

We Put Wheels on Inclusion (And Yes, They’re at Target) with Drew Ann Long

2025-10-0620:16

Send us a text A store manager said, “There’s no such thing as a special needs shopping cart.” That moment lit the fuse for Drew Ann Long, who turned a napkin sketch into Caroline’s Cart—now standard in Target, Walmart, and Sam’s Club, and a symbol of what happens when families refuse to accept exclusion as normal. We walk through the emotional and practical beats: Caroline’s Rett syndrome diagnosis, the day-to-day realities of caregiving, and the exact problem that made shopping unsafe and e...

Uncovering the Real You: Life Beyond the Bottle with Joshua Case

2025-09-2454:59

Send us a text What happens when the executive with the corner office is hiding a devastating secret? Joshua Case, former VP at a Fortune 500 company, pulls back the curtain on his double life—corporate success by day, battling alcohol addiction by night. Joshua's raw conversation reveals how childhood trauma, including sexual abuse and a complicated relationship with his father, created patterns of codependency that followed him into adulthood. Despite his success in career, he found himsel...

The Publisher Behind the Scenes with Dominick Domasky

2025-09-0841:03

Send us a text Dominick Domasky's story reads like a masterclass in resilience. From losing half a million dollars in a failed restaurant venture in his twenties to founding a publishing company that's helped hundreds of authors worldwide, his journey embodies the power of perseverance and reinvention. "I went bankrupt. I was broke. I was in my early 20s, couldn't even pay for a spaghetti dinner," Dominic recalls. During those darkest moments, he discovered writing as both therapy and purpos...

When Everything Changed: From Speaker to Award-Winning Songwriter

2025-08-2601:00:48

Send us a text Who believes one story has the power to change someone's life? I know I certainly do, and you know who else does? No other than the Wendy Babcock, Founder of WHEN stories. As we all are well aware, 2020 changed the world. Many of our work schedules changed, as we had to make that transition from going to a workplace to having to use our home as our office. Wendy Babcock's work was no different in that her public speaking opportunities during that time dwindled. However,...

Escaping Toxic Love with Lindsay Abernathy

2025-08-0501:15:30

Send us a text Lindsay Abernathy shares her powerful journey through domestic abuse and offers practical guidance for survivors trying to rebuild their lives after toxic relationships. • Abuse can hide behind the appearance of a perfect life with fancy houses and cars • Many victims don't identify their situation as abuse because it doesn't match stereotypical portrayals • Abusers collect vulnerabilities early in relationships to weaponize them later • Warning signs include love bombing foll...

Why Gen Z's Struggle Isn't Just About Social Media

2025-07-1001:03:24

Send us a text Trigger Warning: Suicide and SA was discussed. What if everything we think we know about the Gen Z mental health crisis is incomplete? In this eye-opening conversation, suicide survivor, author, and mental health advocate Aly Vredenberg challenges conventional wisdom by revealing four interconnected factors driving declining mental health among young people: economics, isolation, environment, and meaning. Aly shares her deeply personal journey, beginning with a suicide attempt...

Rewiring the Brain: The Power of Neurofeedback

2025-07-0130:34

Send us a text By now, everybody has heard of traditional going to therapy and taking medications, if necessary. However, what role does neurofeedback play in treating mental health? Meet Meg Stuppy, founder of the Los Angeles Neurofeedback Center and co-founder of Clarity Direct Neurofeedback, who joins us to illuminate how neurofeedback technology is transforming mental health treatment by helping rebalance the brain's natural rhythms. With 13 years of experience in the field, Meg ex...

From Masking to Leading: Navigating the World as a Neurodivergent Woman

2025-06-1734:23

Send us a text What if neurodivergence isn't just something to be accommodated, but a powerful gift that can transform leadership? Rita Ramakrishnan, a person with Autism Spectrum and ADHD, found strengths behind her diagnosis, and she used it to excel in executive leadership. Amongst the strengths Rita found was her remarkable hunger for knowledge that stemmed with her voracious appetite of curiosity. Rita, unlike others who would make assumptions based off what they feel other people ...

You're Not a Body with a Soul, You're a Soul with a Body with Aaron Ash

2025-05-3041:16

Send us a text As many may know, May is mental health awareness month. However, what still needs more conversation about mental health is the fact that men too have mental health challenges. Men too deserve to share their stories and be heard. Men too deserve to be vulnerable without being told to "man up" or "suck it up." Aaron Ash bravely shares his challenges of having undergone complex trauma through incidents with his family. As a lot of people tend to do, Aaron tried to find solac...

Breaking Autism Stereotypes with Sam Mitchell

2025-04-2226:01

Send us a text Sam Mitchell shares his journey of being diagnosed with autism at age four and transforming his experiences into a platform for advocacy through podcasting and motivational speaking. Sam turned his pain into purpose by giving back and helping others. • Diagnosed with classic autism symptoms including repetitive behaviors, restricted interests, and sensory sensitivities • Found understanding at age six through a book that explained his autism, helping him make sense of social e...

EndoDNA....Using Genetic Testing to Guide your Health

2025-03-3050:10

Send us a text What if your DNA could guide you on how to better handle your health? What if genetic testing could guide you on how certain medications would work? Len May, founder and CEO of EndoDNA, does just that: helps people navigate their health through genetic testing. The road to lead Len May to where he is today has been anything but easy. Len May was kicked out of his home when he was in his later teens for recreational use of cannabis. Len's parents strongly frowned up...

Beyond the Diagnosis: Financial Planning for Special Needs Families

2025-03-1724:49

Send us a text Michael Pereira, an insurance specialist and father of a son with autism, shares critical financial planning strategies for families with special needs children. He offers insight into comprehensive insurance planning that protects dependents with special needs if something happens to their caregivers. • Michael's strong passion is helping special needs families after his son's autism diagnosis • Three key areas of focus: income protection, funding special needs trusts, and lo...

Hallmark, Healing, and Heartache: The Real Story Behind the Movie

2025-03-0601:03:35

Send us a text What happens when a devastating diagnosis becomes a pivotal turning point in someone's life? In this episode, we explore the remarkable journey of Heather Krueger, who transformed adversity into her calling. Diagnosed with stage four liver disease just before her 25th birthday, Heather's strong faith and determination led her down a path where she was able to receive a living donation of a liver. However, Heather's story didn't end there. Her living donation ended up turning in...

Stories of Hope: Changing Lives One Book at a Time

2025-02-2454:48

Send us a text What happens when the magic of books become a lifeline for children in need? We welcome the extraordinary Seena Jacob, founder and CEO of Bookwallah, a nonprofit that is dedicated to setting up libraries for underprivileged children who survived traumatic events but didn't have kind of resources available for support. Seena Jacob knows well about how the power of reading stories has the ability to impact someone's life. Seena herself turned to book reading as a young child as a...

Embracing Your Unique Path with Molly Booker

2025-02-1601:01:08

Send us a text Trigger Warning: Past Suicidal Ideations Discussed After experiencing the crushing weight of societal expectations, Molly Booker found her path to self-acceptance through embracing her individuality and passions. On this episode of "On the Spectrum with Sonia," Molly, the author of "Magic in the Mess," takes us on her inspiring journey of breaking free from the chains of conformity Her story highlights the difficulties that present when one feels that they don't fit...

#box-pro-ellipsis-176476341803645{-webkit-line-clamp:2;}On the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Adult Autism, Neurodivergent, and Mental Health Expert

On the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Adult Autism, Neurodivergent, and Mental Health Expert